Happy NFL Draft eve, New York Jets fans!

With the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, it's finally time to examine what the Jets and general manager Darren Mougey could do in this year's draft. The struggling franchise possesses a slew of picks in the upcoming draft, including a total of four picks within the top-50. And with plenty of holes on the current roster, the Jets could have a wide variety of outcomes this weekend.

Here's my final predictive mock draft for the New York Jets before the 2026 NFL Draft.

While fans may not know who the Jets will ultimately take with the No. 2 pick, I believe that Texas Tech star pass rusher David Bailey will be the selection on Thursday night.

I still have Ohio State's Arvell Reese as the higher-rated prospect, but my guess is that head coach Aaron Glenn would rather have a more proven prospect over Reese. Still, Bailey possesses an elite burst off the line of scrimmage, which was clear in 2025 when he finished the season with 52 tackles and 14.5 sacks.

My original prediction for the Jets with the No. 16 pick was Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr., however, there's a good chance that USC wide receiver Makai Lemon could fall into the hands of Mougey in the middle of round one.

Lemon is a polarizing prospect due to his small stature (5-foot-11, 192 lbs.), but his size does not limit his success in the passing game. The 21-year-old prospect was one of the best receivers against zone coverage during his final season with the Trojans, which was also backed up by a 1,100-yard, 11-touchdown season in 2025. Pairing Lemon with star wideout Garrett Wilson would open up new opportunities for the Jets' passing game in 2026 with quarterback Geno Smith at the helm.

Instead of staying put at pick No. 33, I decided to move out of the pick and accumulate more draft capital in the middle rounds of this year's draft.

Luckily for New York, Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez was still on the board at pick No. 44, which could be a huge addition to the team's front seven on defense. Rodriguez is coming off one of the most impressive seasons we've seen from a linebacker at the college level, recording 128 tackles, 11 tackles for losses, seven forced fumbles, six pass deflections, and four interceptions. Pairing the 23-year-old defender with veteran Demario Davis could make for one of the best linebacker duos in the NFL.

*NYJ trades pick No. 33 to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for picks No. 39 and 82

After moving out of pick No. 33, the Jets finally acquire a cornerback in Arizona State's Keith Abney.

During his final season with the Sun Devils in 2025, Abney tallied a career-high 12 pass deflections, along with 42 tackles and two interceptions. While he may not have the stature to become a true top-cornerback in the NFL (5-foot-10, 187 lbs.), Abney's aggressive style of play makes him a perfect defensive back for Glenn in 2026.

One of the key position groups that must be addressed before the upcoming season is the Jets' interior of the offensive line, which makes Kentucky's Jalen Farmer an exciting selection in the third round.

Farmer was a late riser throughout the NFL Draft process, but his aggressive style of play in the run game warrants his sudden jump. The former Wildcat will need to improve as a pass blocker; however, he is the perfect developmental guard in the middle rounds.